Controlling switch



. 1,644,526 Oct. 4, 1927. E. LER

CONTROLLING SWI TC H Filed Oct. .17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet H'ZZafiZTfiZyZeww/mm.

A TTORNEY' Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONTROLLING SWITCH.

.Application filed October 17, 1925. Serial No. 63,165.

This invention relates to a controlling switch for use in connection with the circuit protecting systems as disclosed in my co pending applications, Serial Numbers 33,164, and 33,166, filed October 17 1925, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a switch for cutting off the heavy current and sending a feeble current. through the line to the short or overload therein, and then diverting the feeble current when the overload or short is removed to restore a circuit to normal position and whereby the burning out and changing of burned fuses is eliminated, and further to prevent the burning of current carrying conductors when a line is overloaded or shorted.

Further objects of the invention are to .provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a controlling switch for the purpose referred to, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, automatic in action, readily installed as an element of a current protecting system, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes. variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switch, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit arrangement.

Referring to the drawings in detaiL-l indicates a base plate upon which is mounted a variable control resistance 2. Carried by the plate 1 are two pairs of magnet supports and with the supports of one pair indicated at 3, 4, and the supports of the other pair at 5, 6. The supports of each pair oppose each other and are. arranged in spaced relation, and the inner support of one pair of supports is spaced from the inner support of the other pair of supports. Hold fast devices 7 are employed for fixedly securing the supports to the plate 1. The supports 3, 4, 5 and 6 are respectively provided with a pair of spaced openings 8, 9, l0 and 11. The openings 9 of the support 4 align with the openings 10 of the support 5.

Arranged between the supports 3, 4, is a pair of primary solenoid magnets 12, and associated therewith, and common thereto, is a yoke-shaped iron core 13 which extends through the openings 8 of the support 3 and partly through the coils. The windings of the solenoids 12 are alike and close and of coarse wire to provide the coils of low resistance. Arranged between the supports 5 and 6 is a pair of primary solenoid magnets 14, and associated therewith and common thereto is a yoke-shaped iron core 15 extending through openings 11 in the support 6 and partly through the coils. The windlngs of the solenoids 14 are alike and close and of fine wire to provide the coils of comparatively high resistance. Associated with the solenoids 12 and common thereto is a horse-shoe shaped armature 16 operating through the openings 9 in the support 4, and associated with the solenoids 14, as well as being common thereto is a horse-shoe shaped armature 17, operating through the openings 10 in the support 5. Thearmatures 16 and 17 are connected together by a flat narrow coupling piece 18 whereby the armat-ures will move in unison, that is to say when the armature 17 is attracted by the solenoids 14, the armature 16 will be withdrawn from the solenoids 12, and when the armature 16 is attracted by the solenoids 12 the armature 17 will be withdrawn from the solenoids 14.

The support 4, centrally of its top, is connected to the support. 5 centrally. of its top by a fiat bridge piece 19, which is secured to said supports 4 and 5 by hold-fast devices 20.

Secured to the plate 1, at each side of the bridge piece 19, as well as spaced a substantial distance therefrom, is a pair of contact supporting posts. The posts of one pair are indicated at 21, 22 and the posts of the other pair at 23, 24. The posts of each pair oppose each other and are arranged in spaced relation. Connected to each of the opposed faces of the posts 21. 22 is respectively a pair of resilient contacts 25, 26. The contacts are secured to the posts by the hold-fa t devices 27. The contacts of each pair are arranged in superposed relation and spaced from each other. Connected to each of the opposed faces of the posts 23, 24 is respectively a pair of resilient contacts 28, 29. The contacts are secured to the posts by the hold-fast devices 30. The contacts of each pair are arranged in superposed relation and spaced from each other.

Cooperating with the pairs of contacts 25, 26, 28 and 29 is a pair of oppositely extending simultaneously shifted circuit opening and closing elements, one referred to generally by the reference character 31 and the other referred to generally by the refer ence character 32. The element 31 cooperates with the pairs of contacts and 26, and the element 32 cooperates with the contacts 28 and 29. When the element 31 is in en gagement with the contacts 25, the element 32 is in engagement with the contacts 28, and when the element 31 is in engagement with the contacts 26, the element 32 is in engagement with contacts 29. The manner in which the circuit opening and closing elements 31 and 32 are actuated, as well as the purpose for such actuation will be hereinafter referred to.

As the element 31 constructed in the same manner as element 32, but one of these elements will be described, as the description of one will apply to the other, and each of said elements consists of an upper blade formed of a downwardly inclined intermediate portion 33 of substantial length and an inner and an outer end portion 34, 35 respectively, the former being of greater length than the latter and with the said end portions 34 and 35 extending in parallel planes. The end portion 34 is formed with an opening 36. Each of said elements further includes a lower blade comprising an upwardly inclined intermediate portion 37 of substantial length, and an inner and an outer end portion 38, 39, the former of greater length than the latter and with the said end portions extending in parallel planes. The inner end portion 38 is pro vided with an opening 40.

The inner end portion 34 of the upper blade is arranged in parallelism with respect to the inner end portion 38 of the lower blade, and the outer end portion 35 of the upper blade is arranged in parallelism with respect to the outer end portion 39 of the lower blade. Arranged between the outer end portions 35 and 39,; as well as being connected therewith, is an inwardly extending flat coupling piece 41, to the inner end of which is connected 'the' outer end of a snapping means 42 in the form of a coiled spring, and the-inner end of said spring 42 is connected to one side of the coupling piece 18 and the-latter is provided with an opening 43 for the purpose of connecting said inner end of the spring therewith.

The elements 31 and 32 have their inner end portions pivotally mounted and when the elements 31 and 32 are set up, the inner end portion of the upper blade of the element 31 is positioned below and against the inner end portion of the upper blade of the element 32, and the inner end portion of the lower blade of the element 31 is positioned against and abuts the inner end portion of the lower blade of the element 32. \Vhen the inner end portions of the said blades are arranged in a manner as stated, the openings 3(5 of the inner end portions of the upper blades align and the openings 40 in the inner end portions of the lower blades align.

Extending through the aligning openings 36 and engaging in the bridge piece 19 is a headed pivot member 44 for the upper blades of the elements 31, 32, and extending through the aligning openings 40 and engaging in the base plate 1 is a headed pivot member 45 for the lower blades of the elements 31,32. The pair of springs 42 extend in opposite directions with respect to the coupling piece 18 when the elements 31 and 32 are set up.

The pivot members 44, 45 are eccentrically disposed with respect to the center of the space formed between each pair of posts, or in other words, the said pivot members are arranged agreater distance from the solenoids 14 than the distance between the pivot members and the solenoids 12. This arrangement provides for the circuit opening and closing elements to snap back to the contacts 25 and 28 with a minimum of effort and incidentally require a very small amount of current to pull them over. This is furthermore obtained in view of the fact that the inner ends of the snapping means or springs 42 are connectedto the coupling piece 18 at the transverse center thereof. The-construction and arrangement of the magnets 16 and 17 with respect to the cores 13, 15, is such that the armature 16 will strike the core'13 and the armature 17 will strike the core 15 and which prevents recoil or rebound of the springs 42, thus stabilizing the circuit opening and closing elements so that they cannot snap back until pulled by the magnets.

With reference to Figure 4, a circuit arrangement is illustrated with respect to the switch, and 46, 47 indicate the line wires, the former leading to the contact device 28 and the latter connected by a branch 48 tothe solenoids 14, which are electrically connected together. Leading from one of the solenoids 14 to the contacts 29 is a branch 49. Leading from the line 46 to the variable resistance 2 is a branch 50, and leading from the resistance 2 is a branch 51 with which is connected the load branches 52, and these latter are connected to the line 47. Leading from one of the solenoids 12 to the branch 51 is a branch 53. The solenoids 12 are electrically connected together, and leading from the other' -solenoid 12 to the contacts 25 is a branch 54. The contacts 26 are connected til) with the branch 51 by a branch 55. Fuses 56, 57 are interposed respectively in the lines 46. 47, if desired.

The position of the switch under normal conditions is as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. as the solenoids 12 are of low resistance. No current flowsthrough the resistance 2 because of its high resistance and practically no resistance is in the solenoid 12. When short circuit or overload occur in the line, the solenoid 12 becomes strong and pulls the circuit opening and closing elements over, breaks the circuit and diverts the current through the resistance 2, which cuts the current down to a feeble amount, and this feeble current can go through the blades and then through the solenoid 14 to return line, or it can go through short circuit or overload to return line. As the solenoid 14 is of high resistance to the feeble current so that the current goes through short circuit or overload and solenoids 12 and 14 are dead while short circuit or overload remains in load. The path of current when short cricuit or overload is removed, is the feeble current from resistance 2 travelling through the blades to solenoid 14, then to return line, and as the solenoid 14 has less resistance than normal load the solenoid becomes energized and pulls the circuit 0 ning and closing elements back over an conditions are as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

The elements 31 and 32 not only open and close the circuit through the solenoids 14, but also constitute what may be termed-current diverting elements, due to the fact that when the current is above normal it is diverted from the solenoids 14 and the current remains diverted from the solenoids 14 until the current becomes normal or when the short circuiting or overloading is removed.

It is thought that the many advantages of a current controlling switch, in accordance with this invention for use in connection with a circuit protecting system, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising two entirely separate sets of solenoid magnets, each set having a horseshoe armature and a yoke shaped core common to the coils thereof, one set wound with comparatively coarse or large wire and of comparatively low resistance and the other set wound with comparatively fine or small wire and of com aratively high resistance, a spring contro led circuit opening and closing devlce connected with and operated by the armature of each set and held in circuit closing position by the springs thereof until a predetermined energizing of the magnet set of low resistance and in another circuit closing position by the springs thereof until a predetermined energizing of the magnet set of high resistance, contact means associated with said device when the latter is in one circuit closing position, and contact means associated with said device when the latter is in the other circuit closing position.

2. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising two entirely'separate sets of solenoid magnets, each set having a horseshoe armature and a yoke shaped core common to the coils thereof, one set wound with comparatively coarse or large wire and of comparatively low resistance and the other set wound with comparatively fine or small wire and of comparatively high resistance, a spring controlled circuit opening and closing device connected with and operated by the armatures of each set and held 1n one circuit closin position by the springs thereof until a pre etermined energizing of the magnet set of low resistance and in another circuit closin position by the springs thereof until a predetermined energizing of the magnet set of high resistance, contact means associated with said circuit opening and closing device when the latter is in one circuit closing position, contact means associated with said circuit opening and closing device when the latter is in the other circuit closing position, means for connecting the armatures together to provide for the movement thereof in unison, means for pivotally supporting said circuit opening and closing device independent of said arma tures, the controlling springs of said device connected with the connecting means between the armatures for imparting snapping action to said device in either direction and further to support the armatures in mid-air so said armatures can oscillate with fluctuation of load and not move the contacts.

3. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth in accordance with claim 1, each of said cores of less length than the coils with which it is associated. and said cores and armatures so constructed and arranged relatively to each other to provide for the armatures striking the cores to allow an armature to travel a comparatively short distance past the center pivot on the low resistance side and to travel a comparatively long distance past the center pivot on the high resistance side.

4. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth in accordance with claim 2, each of said cores of less length than the coils with which it is associated, and said .cores and armatures so constructed and arranged relatively to each other to provide for the armatures strlking the cores to allow the armatures to move in one direction comparatively easy and to move in the other direction comparatively hard and to prevent rebound of said springs.

5. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of opposed magnetic devices, one of said devices being of comparatively low resistance and the other of comparatively high resistance, said devices including armatures and said armatures moving in unison, a pivoted pair of spring controlled circuit opening and closing elements, the pivots of said elements being independent of said armatures, said armatures being held in mid air by the con trolling springs of said elements to dampen minute movement of the armatures whereby said movements will not efiect contacts, said controlling springs of said elements providing resilient connections between the armatures'and the elements to provide for the synchronous operation of said elements on the energizing of one of said devices, said elements operated in one direction by said device of low resistance and the other direction by said device of high resistance, contact means associating with said elements when these latter operate in one direction, and contact means associating with said elements when these elements operate in the other direction.

6. A current'controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising a air of opposed magnetic devices arrange in spaced relation, one of said devices being of low resistance and the other of high resistance, each of said devices including a horse-shoe shaped armature, said armatures connected together and moving in unison, a pair of pivoted circuit opening and closing elements including controlling springs and resiliently connected with said armatures by said controlling springs and synchronously operated by the armature of each of said devices and held in one circuit closing position by said controlling springs in cooperation of the cores so that the elements operate hard in one direction when the magnetic device of low resistance is energized and held in an other circuit position by said springs in cooperation with the cores so that the elements operate easy when the magnetic device of high resistance is energized, contactmeans associated with said elements when these latter are held in one circuit closing position, and contact means associating with said elements when these latter are held in the other circuit closing position.

-7. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of opposed magnetic devices arranged in spaced relation, one of said devices being of low resistance and the other of high resistance, each of said devices including a horse shoe sha ed armature, said armatures connected toget er and moving in unison, a pair of pivoted spring controlled circuit opening and closing elements resiliently connected by their springs With and synchronously operated by the armature of each of said devices and held in one circuit position by the controlling springs thereof and allowed to move hard when the magnetic device of low resistance is energized to a certain degree and held bythe controlling springs thereof in another circuit position and allowed to move easily when the magnetic device of high resistance is energized to a certain degree, contact means associated with said elements when these latter are held in one circuit position, contact means associating with said elements when these latter are held in the other circuit closing position, the pivots for said opening and closing elements being independent of the armatures for said magnetic devices, and said pivots set closer to the magnetic device of low resistance than to the magnetic device of high resistance.

8. A current controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising a fair of opposed magnetic devices arrange in spaced relation, a pair of oppositely extended circuit opening and closing elements pivoted at their inner ends, resilient connections between the outer ends of said elements and the armatures of said devices, said arm-atures of said devices connected together and move in unison, said resilient connections between said elements and the arma tures of said devices providing for the synchronous operation of said elements by each of said devices and held in circuit closing position by said resilient connections until the device of low resistance is energized to a predetermined degree, said low resistance device pulling armature part of the way and said resilient connections carrying it the rest of the way and held in another circuit closing position by said resilient connections until the device of high resistance is energized to a predetermined degree, said high resistance device ulling the armature part way and said resilient connections carrying the armature the rest of the way, contact means associating with the outer end of said elements when said elements are held in either circuit closing position.

9. A controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising two sets of opposed magnetic devices arranged in spaced relation, each set having a horse shoe shaped armature common to the coils thereof and a yoke shaped core common to the coils thereof and extending part way through these latter, one set being of comparatively low resistance and the other set being of comparatively high resistance, means for connecting said armatures together to provide for their oper the latter is energized and to another circuit aeaaaae ation in unison, a pair of shiftable circuit opening and closing elements pivotally connected at their inner ends and free of connection attheir inner ends with the said armatures, resilient connections between the outer terminal portions of said elements and said armatures, said resilient connections providing means for synchronously operating said elements to one circuit closing position by the device of low resistance when closing position when the device of high resistance is energized, contact means associating with the outer ends of said elements when these latter are in one circuit closing position, contact means associating with said elements when these latter are in the other circuit closing position, the armatures of said devices striking the cores of the low resistance magnets in such a way that the armature returns easily, armature is stopped a short distance past the pivot on the low resistance side, said armatures strike cores of high resistance ma nets in such way that said armature moves ard in reverse direction, armature is stopped a comparatively 103g distance past pivot onhigh resistance si e.

10. A current controlling switch for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of op posed magnetic devices arranged in spaced relation, each of said devices including a horse shoe shaped armature, means for connecting said armatures together to provide for the moving thereof in unison, a pair of synchronously shiftable circuit opening and c osing elements pivotally connected at their inner ends, contacts arranged so that said elements operate comparatively easy in one direction and comparatively hard in the other direction, snapping springs connecting the outer terminal portion of said elements with the means for connecting the armatures together so that the elements are locked on one side near the pivots and locked on the other side far from the pivots, the 'point of connection of the snapping springs with the means for connecting the armatures being positioned to one side of the pivotal connection for the inner ends of said elements, one of said magnetic devices being of low resistance and the other of high resistance, said snapping springs providing means for synchronously shitting said elements to one 'circuit closing position when said magnetic device of low resistance is energized and for shifting said elements synchronously to another circuit closing position when said magnetic device of high risistance is energized, and two pair of contact elements, each pair of contact elements common to one end of said circuit closing and opening elements.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature hereto.

winriaan n. Herman.

till 

